Container lid

ABSTRACT

A container lid which seals about a peripheral lip contacting a corresponding container is disclosed. A flexible material, such as a silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or the like, is attached to at least a peripheral lip formed in a flexible substrate, such as a flexible metal or plastic material, having a first and second surface. The peripheral lip includes notches or slots to create individual sections in the lip to allow inward and outward flexing of the sections. When fitted to a container, the coated flexible substrate forms a seal between the container and the container lid. Preferably, the flexible substrate is formed in such a way that it is bi-stable, thus capable of existing in either a convex or concave state. In one embodiment of the container lid the flexible substrate includes a plurality of grasping teeth (i.e., specialized flexing sections) distributed about the periphery of the flexible substrate.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/291,700, filed Nov. 26, 2009, which claims the filing priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/128,723 filed on Jun. 23, 2008. Each application is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present device relates to a container assembly including a container and a container lid. Specifically, the present device relates to a flexible container lid coated with a flexible material which secures container contents by forming a seal between the container and the periphery of the container lid while allowing for ease of access to the contents upon activation of the lid by a user.

BACKGROUND

Container lids are common devices designed to enclose containers, preserving freshness of foodstuffs, hiding contents from view, or preventing spillage of contents. Unfortunately, however, many container lids—by virtue of their ability to form a seal with the containers—are difficult to remove. Such container lids require the user to separate the container and lid with two hands, or even pry the lid from the container, potentially jeopardizing the structural integrity of the container and lid.

Alternatively, a container lid which fails to successfully form a seal with the container may too easily become detached, even upon a user's inadvertent contact with the lid. Such detachability can cause frustration when the container's contents spill. Further, a dislodged container lid can cause spoilage of edible contents, or allow impurities to enter the container and contaminate contents. In some instances, even where a container lid is properly in place but no seal is formed with the container, air, moisture, dust, or other impurities may seep into the container—the presence of which may significantly degrade the quality of the container's contents.

The present invention is intended to address these and other possible problems associated with existing container lids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein an improved container lid which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages. Generally speaking, the lid includes a flexible material held to a flexible substrate, such as a flexible steel or plastic, having first and second opposing surfaces and a peripheral lip. When fitted to a container, the coated flexible substrate forms a seal between a sidewall of the container and the periphery of the container lid.

In an embodiment of the container lid, the flexible substrate is formed in such a way that it is bi-stable, thus capable of achieving and existing in either a convex or concave state. It is an aspect of at least one embodiment of the container lid that the flexible substrate, being manufactured of a flexible steel, comprises a plurality of flexing or grasping sections distributed about the periphery of the flexible substrate. Such sections may range in quantity, with as few as three providing the necessary outward flex for the peripheral lip.

In an embodiment of the invention, the flexible material is molded to the substrate using a flow through process for encapsulating the substrate. Such a substrate comprises a plurality of holes, allowing material to flow from one opposing surface to the other.

It is an alternative embodiment of the container lid, a primer is applied to the flexible substrate prior to application of the flexible material. The flexible material adhered to the flexible substrate preferably comprises silicone rubber, but may include any such flexible material which may be secured to the substrate to provide a peripheral seal.

These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of one embodiment of a lid and container assembly;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the cross-section of the lid and container assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of another embodiment of a lid and container assembly;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the cross-section of the lid and container assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of a lid and container assembly;

FIG. 6 is a cross section along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 with the lid being in a convex state;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the section indicated in FIG. 6 illustrating the formed seal between the present container lid and a container;

FIG. 8 is a top view of another embodiment of the flexible substrate of the present container lid in a convex state;

FIG. 9 is a cross section along the line 9-9 of the embodiment of FIG. 8 of the present flexible substrate in a convex state;

FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the present container lid in a concave state;

FIG. 11 is a cross section along line 11-11 of the embodiment of FIG. 10 of the present container lid enclosing a container, the lid being in a concave state;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the section indicated in FIG. 11 illustrating the broken seal between the present container lid and a container;

FIG. 13 is a top view of an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 11 showing the flexible substrate in a concave state;

FIG. 14 is a cross section along the line 14-14 of the embodiment of FIG. 13 of the flexible substrate of the present container lid in a concave state;

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the flexible substrate including through holes at the periphery and center area for molding;

FIG. 16 is a cross-section of a lid including the flexible substrate of FIG. 15;

FIGS. 17 and 17A are cross-sectional views the lid of FIG. 15 including through holes for molding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated.

To the extent additional or alternative embodiments are disclosed herein, such additional or alternative components are consistently referenced using the same two digit number or, in some cases, by adding a leading third digit to the corresponding reference number. Otherwise, like components are consistently numbered in the following description and in each of the appended drawing figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1-17, there is illustrated several embodiments of a container lid 10. Generally speaking, the container lid 10 is comprised of a thin, flexible, substrate 12 having a first (outer) surface 14 and a second (inner) surface 16. The flexible substrate 12, or at least a part of the substrate 12 including the periphery, is preferably encapsulated by a flexible material 18. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, only the peripheral lip 13 is encapsulated by the flexible material 18. In this embodiment, the flexible, or resilient, material contacts the inner surface 16 and the outer surface 14 of the peripheral lip 18 providing a similar resilient material on the inner surface and the outer surface of the peripheral lip, as is evident in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 have the entire substrate 12 encapsulated. In both embodiments, when used with a container 20, the container lid 10 friction fits to the container 20 at a periphery to thereby form a seal along the periphery. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, small projections 23 may be formed as part of the flexible material to facilitate the formation of a seal between the lid 10 and the container 20.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the flexible substrate 12 is comprised of a slightly cupped surface with a peripheral lip 13 extending substantially perpendicularly downwardly from the periphery of a central section 22 the lid 10. The flexible substrate 12 is preferably formed of a metal, such as spring steel. It may, however, be formed of stainless steel, aluminum, plated steel, or many other metals having the ability to be so formed. The substrate may also be formed of most any flexible plastic, including numerous thermoplastic and thermoform polymers, composites, and laminate material capable of being flexed and formed while retaining a certain amount of rigidity, as is known by persons having ordinary skill in the art.

A flexible or resilient material 18 may be applied directly to the flexible substrate 12, such as preferably through compression molding, but including such processes as over-molding, bonded assembly and other processes known in the art. Regardless of how the material is attached to the substrate, it is more the placement of the material to form a seal which is of importance.

In a preferred compression-molding process, for example, the flexible substrate 112 may be formed with a plurality of holes 17, 117, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. The plurality of holes 17, 117 can include peripheral holes 17 in the central section 122 of the flexible substrate 112. With the peripheral holes 17 being provided, the resulting lid may then include flexible material encapsulating only the lip 13, similar to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, additional areas of holes, e.g., central holes 117 located adjacent a center of the central section 22 of the flexible substrate 122, may be provided as well (see FIGS. 15 and 17). The flexible material 118 (see FIG. 16) could then be applied to the substrate in a single step, as above, or in multiple steps, as necessary to achieve the desired encapsulation of the lid 110. That is, the compression molded material would spread to fill the first and subsequent holes 17, 117 to thereby encapsulate the lip and the remainder of the substrate 112 with material 118. When done in consecutive steps, the molding process is used to cover the lid periphery in a first step, and then the remaining bottom or under surface of the substrate 12 is covered in a second step. The two similar materials may bond to one another, for example, at an area where they interface on the lid under surface. As shown in FIG. 17, a central button section 132 of material at the center of the top or upper surface of the substrate 12 helps anchor the material to the substrate much like the holes 17 about the periphery.

The flexible substrate 112 includes the plurality of holes 17, 117 and the resilient material 118 extends through the holes from the outer surface 114 of the flexible substrate to the inner surface 116 of the flexible substrate as seen in FIG. 17. This provides the similar resilient material 18 on the inner surface 116 and the outer surface 114 of the flexible substrate 112 including the peripheral lip 113 and the central section 122. The peripheral holes 17 are circumferentially spaced around the central section 122 of the flexible substrate (see FIG. 15). An entirety of the lower surface 116 of the central section 122 of the flexible substrate 12 can be covered by the resilient material 118. The resilient material 118 can include the central button section 32 formed on the outer surface 112 of the flexible substrate 12 covering the central holes 117 and a peripheral section 34 (FIG. 16) formed on the outer surface of the flexible substrate covering the peripheral holes 17. As seen in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 17 and 17A, the upper surface 114 of the central section 122 of the flexible substrate 12 is not covered by resilient material between the central button section 32 and the peripheral section 34.

Similarly, the same embodiments can be achieved through the use of a bonding agent or primer in lieu of the through holes 17, 117. The primer (not shown) would be applied to the desired area of coverage (e.g., the periphery) and the flexible material 18 could then be compression molded to that area. A primer may first be applied to the flexible substrate 12 so as to cause the flexible material 18 to bond more aggressively to the flexible substrate 12. The primer is best used when the flexible material is to be applied to the entirety of the flexible substrate 12 (see FIG. 11), including the peripheral lip 13, as careful metering of the primer is less critical. That is, where only a portion of the lid 10 is to be coated and primer “overspray”—the accidental application of primer to any area which is not being coated—is unsightly and, therefore, undesirable, application of primer to such a small area exclusively may be difficult. Thicker (i.e., more viscous) primer coatings which can be more accurately applied by, for example, a brush may help alleviate this application problem.

Where “overspray” is of no concern, the primer and flexible material may be applied to less than the entire lid 10. As several alternative examples, primer may be applied to (1) the second container-facing surface 16 and the container-facing portion of the peripheral lip 13 of the flexible substrate 12, (2) the periphery and peripheral lip 13 of the first and second surfaces 14, 16 of the flexible substrate 12, or (3) the contact points of the flexible substrate 12 between the container lid 10 and the container 20.

In an alternative process, the flexible material 18 may be molded separately, in one or several pieces, and then chemically or heat bonded to the substrate 12.

Combinations of these manufacturing processes are also possible and may be effective for certain applications.

The flexible material 18 itself may be comprised of any number of polymers, copolymers, polymer blends and the like. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, waxes, resins or any other resilient and malleable material capable of being flexed, formed, and attached to or about the flexible substrate 12 in any of the manners described above.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible substrate 12 is formed such that it is bi-stable. That is, the substrate 12 is capable of existing in either a stable convex (FIGS. 5-9) or a stable concave (FIGS. 10-14) state. The central section 22, 122 is movable between a convex configuration and a concave configuration. The flexible substrate 12, 112 is made from a bi-stable material configured to maintain the central section 22 in the convex configuration or the concave configuration until acted on by a force applied to the central section normal to a central axis of the flexible substrate. A user causes the flexible substrate 12 of the container lid 10 to alternate from a convex to a concave state by applying an inward force at the center (C) of the container lid 10. The peripheral lip 13 includes a plurality of notches 19 to create flexing sections 15 which allow outward and inward flexing of the lip 13. There can be at least three, but preferably four or more flexing sections 15, and as many as 30 (or even greater than 30) sections, to allow the lid 10 to properly function. The flexing sections 15 press the encapsulating flexible material 18 against the container 20 to effect a seal when the flexible substrate 12 exists in its convex state, as depicted in FIG. 7. Similarly, a user causes the flexible substrate 12 of the container lid 10 to alternate from a concave to a convex state by applying force to at least two points along the peripheral lip 13 of the container lid 10 or by applying an upward force at the center of the container lid. The flexing sections 15 of the peripheral lip 13 release pressure on the container 20 when the flexible substrate 12 exists in its concave state, as depicted in FIG. 12. The flexing sections 15, 115 are movable between an inwardly disposed position (shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 7) and an outwardly disposed position (shown in FIG. 12) in response to the central section 22, 122 moving between the convex configuration and the concave configuration. As seen in the figures, the resilient material moves between a first position where the resilient material 18 is engaged with the container 20 to facilitate a seal between the container lid 10 and the container 20 (see FIG. 7) to a second position where the resilient material 18 is disengaged from the container (see FIG. 12). The resilient material 18 is configured such that the flexing sections 15 maintain the outwardly disposed position and the resilient material maintains the second position when the central section 22 is in the concave position until acted on by a generally outward (upward per the orientation shown in FIG. 12) force applied to the central section generally normal to a central axis of the flexible substrate or by a generally inward force applied along the peripheral lip 13. Stated another way, the flexible substrate 12 and the resilient material 18 configured in a manner such that the resilient material does not impart an inward force on the flexing sections great enough to move the flexing sections from the outwardly disposed position to the inwardly disposed position when the central section is in the concave configuration (such as shown in FIG. 12).

The flexing sections 15 may be formed to more aggressively grasp the periphery of the container 20 by adding, for example, a slight bend at the section end. The bend may create a different pressure point for forming a seal against the container 20 than the straight flexing sections 15, which may be preferable for certain applications. In most other respects, the flexing sections 115 are functionally equivalent to the flexing sections 15 of the previous embodiment, though for purposes of this disclosure the flexing sections 115 are typically greater in number. The flexing sections 115 preferably number from about 10 to an amount which achieves the desired and intended peripheral seal.

Section width and the gap between adjacent flexing sections 115 may be varied to achieve the desired peripheral sealing. When provided in a greater number, the flexing sections 115 may have the effect of increasing flexibility and durability of the container lid 110. As noted, the embodiment of the container lid 110 including the flexing sections 115 operates similarly to the embodiment of the container lid 10 comprising the flexing sections 15. For example, as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, the flexing sections 115 grasp the container 20 when the flexible substrate 12 exists in its convex state, and release the container 20 when the flexible substrate 12 exists in its concave state, as depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14. The resilient material spans circumferentially between adjacent flexing sections 15, 115 filling the respective notch 19, (see FIG. 17A) between the adjacent flexing sections with resilient material 18. The cross section in FIG. 17A was taken through a notch 119 between adjacent flexing sections 115—notice how the flexible material fills the notch (depicted by the flexing section not being visible in FIG. 17A). Also, a thickness through the resilient material 118 between an internal surface 42 of the resilient material 18 and an external surface 44 of the resilient material measured through a respective flexing section 15, 115 is the same as the thickness measured through a respective notch 19. This can obscure the flexing sections from the consumer since the resilient material will cover the flexing sections 15, 115 without providing an indication that the flexing sections are encapsulated by the resilient material.

Additionally, as detailed above, a primer, flexible material, or both may be solely applied to the flexing sections 115, to the flexing sections 115 and the rest of the flexible substrate 12, or to any combination of the flexing sections 115, the first and second surfaces of the flexible substrate 12, and the container-facing and container-reversing portions of the grasping sections 115. The primer, when used, could be applied in any of the noted processes previously described.

The container lid 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-17 is shown to be circular. However, persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the container lid 10, including the flexible substrate 12, 112 and the associated flexible material 18, 118 can be formed to accommodate containers of a variety of shapes and sizes. In one embodiment of the present container lid 10, a circular flexible substrate is formed of stainless steel to be bi-stable, coated entirely with a primer, and compression molded with a thin layer of a flexible silicone rubber material to entirely cover the flexible substrate. The resilient material can be provided to include a continuous circular lower edge 36 (i.e., the lower edge does not deviate from a plane normal to a central axis of the container lid 10), which also obscures the flexing sections from the consumer since the resilient material will cover the flexing sections 15, 115 without providing an indication that the flexing sections are encapsulated by the resilient material.

The container 20 onto which the container lid 10 fits may similarly be formed of a variety of materials (see list for container lid above) and in numerous shapes, as is known by persons having ordinary skill in the art. One embodiment of the container, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, is of cylindrical shape featuring a continuous cylindrical wall and a circular bottom. The container 20 may be formed of any material stated above, and need not be formed of the same material as the container lid.

With reference to FIG. 16, each flexing section 115 includes a distal edge 50 spaced from the central section 122. The resilient material 118 wraps around and covers the distal edge 50 to provide the similar resilient material on the inner surface 116 and the outer surface 114 of the peripheral lip 113. The resilient material 118 forms an inner upper terminal edge 52 adjacent the inner surface 116 of the peripheral lip 113. The inner upper terminal edge 52 is spaced from resilient material attached with the lower surface of the central section 122. Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 16, the inner surface 116 of the flexing sections 115 above the inner upper terminal edge 52 is not covered with resilient material 118. This can facilitate the inward and outward movement of the flexing sections that is described above.

The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicant's contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art. 

1. A lid and container assembly comprising: a container; and a container lid comprising, a flexible substrate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a central section and a peripheral lip extending downwardly from the central section, wherein the central section is movable between a convex configuration and a concave configuration, wherein the peripheral lip includes a plurality of notches separating the peripheral lip into a plurality of flexing sections, wherein the flexing sections are movable between an inwardly disposed position and outwardly disposed position in response to the central section moving between the convex configuration and the concave configuration; and a resilient material attached to the peripheral lip, wherein the resilient material contacts the inner surface and the outer surface of the peripheral lip providing a similar resilient material on the inner surface and the outer surface of the peripheral lip, wherein the resilient material moves with the flexing sections between a first position where the resilient material is engaged with the container to facilitate a seal between the container lid and the container and a second position where the resilient material is disengaged from the container.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient material has an internal surface and an external surface and the resilient material spans circumferentially between adjacent flexing sections filling the respective notch between the adjacent flexing sections with resilient material.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a thickness through the resilient material between the internal surface and the external surface measured through a respective flexing section is the same as a thickness measured through a respective notch.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate includes a plurality of holes, wherein the resilient material extends through the holes from the outer surface of the flexible substrate to the inner surface of the flexible substrate.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of holes includes peripheral holes in the central section near the peripheral lip.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the peripheral holes are circumferentially spaced around the central section of the flexible substrate, wherein each flexing section includes a distal edge spaced from the central section, wherein the resilient material wraps around the distal edge to provide the similar resilient material on the inner surface and the outer surface of the peripheral lip.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the resilient material forms an inner upper terminal edge adjacent the inner surface of the peripheral lip, wherein the inner upper edge is spaced from resilient material attached with the lower surface of the central section.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner surface of the flexing sections above the inner upper terminal edge is not covered with resilient material.
 9. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of holes includes central holes located adjacent a center of the central section.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein an entirety of the inner surface of the central section is covered by the resilient material.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the resilient material includes a central button section formed on the outer surface covering the central holes and a peripheral section formed on the outer surface covering the peripheral holes.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the upper surface of the central section is not covered by resilient material between the central button section and the peripheral section.
 13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each flexing section includes a distal edge spaced from the central section, wherein the resilient material wraps around and covers the distal edge to provide the similar resilient material on the inner surface and the outer surface of the peripheral lip.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the resilient material forms an inner upper terminal edge adjacent the inner surface of the peripheral lip, wherein the inner upper edge is spaced from resilient material attached with the lower surface of the central section.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the inner surface of the flexing sections above the inner upper terminal edge is not covered with resilient material.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the resilient material includes a continuous circular lower edge.
 17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is made from a bi-stable material configured to maintain the central section in the convex configuration or the concave configuration until acted on by a force applied to the central section normal to a central axis of the flexible substrate.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the resilient material is configured such that the flexing sections maintain the outwardly disposed position and the resilient material maintains the second position when the central section is in the concave position until acted on by a generally inward force applied to the central section generally normal to a central axis of the flexible substrate or by a generally inward force applied along the peripheral lip.
 19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient material is silicone and the silicone is overmolded to the flexible substrate.
 20. A lid and container assembly comprising: a container; and a container lid comprising, a flexible substrate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a central section and a peripheral lip extending downwardly from the central section, wherein the central section is movable between a convex configuration and a concave configuration, wherein the peripheral lip includes a plurality of notches separating the peripheral lip into a plurality of flexing sections, wherein the flexing sections move between an inwardly disposed position and outwardly disposed position in response to the central section moving between the convex configuration and the concave configuration; and a resilient material attached to the peripheral lip, wherein the resilient material spans between adjacent flexing sections filling the respective notch between the adjacent flexing sections with resilient material, wherein the resilient material moves with the flexing sections between a first position where the resilient material is engaged with the container to facilitate a seal between the container lid and the container and a second position where the resilient material is disengaged from the container. 